GERMANY declared war on Islamic State this morning after MPs in Berlin gave the green light to a huge military funding package that could see its warplanes in the skies above Syria and Iraq.

Tornado reconnaissance jets, a naval frigate and up to 1,200 troops will be sent to the region to tackle ISIS after Germany vowed a tougher response to the jihadi regime in the wake of the Paris attacks.

Up to six Tornado jets will provide aerial refuelling and satellite images rather than carrying out direct bombing missions.

Army chief of staff General Volker Wieker said on Sunday the military force would be mobilised “very quickly” once German MPs had given it the go-ahead.

A leaked statement from the German Cabinet read: “The German contribution serves the fight against terrorism under the auspices of the alliance against ISIS and is aimed at supporting in particular France, Iraq and the international alliance in its fight against ISIS.”

The agreed package, which still requires parliamentary approval, would last for one year at a cost of 134 million euros (£94m).

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But German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier described the 1,200 soldiers as "an upper limit, with a buffer zone".

He continued: “I do not think that we will have that many soldiers deployed abroad at the same time."

The frigate could be used to protect the French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, which is stationed in the eastern Mediterranean.

Germany has seen a rise in extremist Islamists based in the country, with some estimates putting the number of ISIS sympathisers based there at 7,900, and fears have been heightened about the threat from jihadists since the shootings and bombings in France.

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German Tornado fighter jet taking off for a reconnaissance flight from a German camp

REUTERS

German soldier walking on a Tornado fighter jet before a reconnaissance flight

GETTY

Anti-war protestors took to the streets of London at the weekend

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German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen

But the country’s defence minister has ruled out any cooperation between German forces and President Bashar al-Assad or his troops.

Ursula von der Leyen said: "The top line is: there will be no cooperation with Assad and no cooperation with troops under his command.”

However, that did not exclude the possibility of including some of those currently on Assad's side in a long-term solution for the country, she said.

"We must avoid the collapse of the state of Syria but let me be clear - there will be no future with Assad," she stressed.

Airstrikes against ISIS

Sat, February 27, 2016

British, French, Russian and US forces launch air strikes around the world.